Driving transmission for opening and closing sliding roof parts

ABSTRACT

A transmission or device for opening and closing sliding roof parts, particularly sliding roofs of freight cars, comprises a cable drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and arranged for each sliding roof part on a cross connection transverse to the longitudinal direction of the freight car. A cable is secured to each roof part and the free ends of each cable are secured on the cable drum and are mounted such that one cable is wound when the other is unwound. The cables could also be connected together and the connected cable arranged to surround the cable drum at least once. A hand crank is connected to each cable drum through transmission means which includes an engaging and a disengaging clutch and having at least a two ratio gearing which automatically adjusts itself to the force expended on the crank.

United States Patent [191 Schneider et al.

[ June 26, 1973 Germany; Rudolf Walser, Jegenstorf, Switzerland [73]Assignee: Rheinstahl Ag,

Netphen-Dries-Tiefenbach, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 87,154

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,530,796 11/1950 Weyant 192/54FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 192,286. 12/1906 Germany 74/337Primary.Examiner-Leonard I-l. Gerin A'iiarr ze'y McGlew & Toren [5 7ABSTRACT A transmission or device for opening and closing sliding roofparts, particularly sliding roofs of freight cars, comprises a cabledrum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and arranged for eachsliding roof part on a cross'connection transverse to the longitudinaldirection of;,the freight car. A cable is secured to each roof part andthe free ends of each cable are secured on the cable drum and aremounted such that one cable is wound when the other is unwound. Thecables could also be connected together and the connected cable arrangedto surround the cable drum at'least once. A hand crank is connected toeach cable drum through transmission means which includes an engagingand a disengaging clutch and having at least a two ratio gear ing whichautomatically adjusts itself to the force expended on the crank.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEI] M26 I975 SHEUIBFZ FIGJ llll ililiililililililililili SCI/#67052 E 5 m m m 0% f 4 a v 6F 5e Y B 3 E FDRIVING TRANSMISSION FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SLIDING ROOF PARTS Thisinvention relates in general to driving devices for operating movingparts, and in particular, to a new and useful driving transmission foropening and closing sliding roof parts particularly on railroad freightcars.

This invention is an improvement over that disclosed and described inUS. Pat. No. 3,526,194.

The present invention is particularly applicable for opening and closingsliding roof parts particularly on railroad freight cars. Such-freightcars include two side wall upper booms of the car box frame which areconnected with each other by at least one cross connection and thesliding roof comprises at least two parts which are raised fordisplacement by an amount at least corresponding to their thicknesses. Acable drum mounted forrotation about a horizontal axis is arrangedtransverse to the longitudinal direction of the car for each slidingroof part and cams are provided, at least on one side of each drum,which extend in a closed position of the sliding roof parts to a fingerbar arranged ontheir underside of the parts. The cams move during therotation of the respective cable drum in an opening direction under thefinger, bar and lift the sliding roof part. The two free ends of theconnecting cables are so secured on a cable drum that one cable is woundthe other is unwound or the two cables are connected with each other andthe one part cable thus formed surrounds the cable drum' at least once.Each cable drum is turned by a hand crank which is operated from thebottom through a transmission means which can be engaged and disengagedthrough a clutch.

The fact that the sliding roof parts must be raised by at least theamount of their thickness before they are displaced horizontally oneabove the other, makes it necessary to'- select gear ratios in thetransmission means so that the force expended during the raising of theroof parts is kept as low as possible. In addition, the required numberof revolutions of the hand wheel during the horizontal displacement alsomust be kept to a minimum. The selected ratio is thus a compromise whichdoes not do full justice to either of the two movements.

jIn order to be able to open the roof with a minimum of force and timeexpenditure, the invention provides a transmission means with a gearingwhich reduces the necessary force during the raising of the roof partsand the necessary number of revolutions during the horiz'ontaldisplacement. This is achieved by providing at least a two ratio gearwhich adjusts itself automatically to the force expended on the handcrank located in the transmission means between the hand crank and theassociated drum. The gear engages in a manner to provide a minimumamount of movement in a'rest position, and during the horizontaldisplacement when the roof parts are locked in their closed position.When the roof parts are raised, the gearengages in a manner providingfor a force saving transmission. By the arrangement of such a gear, theforce required on the hand crank for raising the roof from its closedposition is reduced to a minimum. After the roof is raised thegearshifts automatically into a gearing which provides for a saving of theamount of revolutions or movement for the displacement of the roofparts.

If one gear is used per freight car, a drive shaft is connectednon-rotationally with the other transmission means arranged on thefreight car. Preferably two hand cranks are arranged which are operatedfrom the bottom and they are connected through a transmission with thedrums being mounted on the cross connection. By connecting the handwheels through the transmission means with the drive shaft of the gear,all hand wheels can be connected with the roof opening devices throughonly a single gearing. The gearing advantageously comprises foursprocket or gear wheels of different sizes corresponding to the requiredgear ratio and which are arranged in pairs on two shafts. When asprocket and chain drive is employed, they are interconnected with eachother by a chain and the wheels of the shaft are mounted loosely andthose sprockets on the other shaft are affixed to the shaft for rotationtherewith. The transmission includes an arrangement between therotatable hand wheel and the gearing which comprises a clutch having twoclutch engaging portions. The first coupling portion of the clutch isconnected between the drive shaft and the first gearing and a secondcoupling is connected between the drive shaft and the second gearing.The arrangement includes first spring biasing means biasing the firstcoupling into an engaged position and second springbiasing means forbiasing the second coupling into an engagement position but which isheld in an ineffective position when the driven shaft is in a loaded ordriving'condition. The two couplings are advantageously in the form ofsleeve members having coupling engagingportions or claws and they aredimensioned so that they may be telescoped one within the other. Theinterengaging portions are chamfered in the form of a truncated pyramid.One of them, for example, theone which is engaged with the gear forsaving speed preferably includes a straightfor chamfered dove tailinterconnection.

Accordingly, it is anobject of the invention to provide a device foropening and closing sliding roof parts which includes a hand crankconnected to a cable drum for a cable which is adapted to be connectedto a roof part to be moved, and transmission means in the form of anengaging'and disengaging clutch which has at least two selectable ratiosof gear connection for driving the associated cables, and whichautomatically adjusts itself to the force expendedon the hand crank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a driving transmissionparticularly for opening and closing sliding roof parts which includes arotatable drive shaft driving a driven shaft for the cables through aselective one of at least two separate gear connections and with aclutch coupling connected between the drive shaft and the gearing whichincludes two interengageable telescopic coupling parts with spring meansfor biasing one of the parts into an effective position and holding theother part out of an effective position, and which permits disengagementof the first part after the unloading of the driven shaft and allowssubsequent engagement of the other part.

A further object of the invention is to provide a driving transmissionwhich is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical tomanufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularlity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure.

' For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantagesand specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there isillustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transmission gearing constructedin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein,comprises a driving transmission, particularly for opening and closingsliding roof parts which, in the embodiment shown, includes a drivinghand wheel 16 which is affixed to a drive shaft 76 for rotating saidshaft. The driving shaft 76 is connected non-rotatably through sprocketwheels 77, chains 78 and sprocket wheel 50 with a second hand wheel 52which is adapted to be located at another location of a railroad freightcar (not shown).

The apparatus also includes a driven shaft 79 having a sprocket 92 whichdrives a chain 78 which is adapted to be connected, either directly orthrough an intermediate gearing, for the selective operation of one orthe other of two roof parts associated with the actuating device for themoving of the sliding roof parts. The separate sprocket 92 could also beprovided behind each hand wheel 16.

Transmission means extending between the hand wheel 16 and the drivenshaft 79 includes axially spaced sprocket wheels 80 and 83 whichalternatively drive the sprockets 82 and 83 on the driven shaft 79through respective chains 84 and 85 to provide two selectable drivespeed ratios. The sprockets 80 and 81 are freely rotatable around theshaft 76 and have on their sides facing each other coupling claws orcoupling parts 80a and 81a. The sprocket wheels 82 and 83 are fixed totheir associated driven shaft 79 for rotation therewith.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the sprocket wheels 80 and81 around the drive shaft 76 are associated with clutch means includinga first clutch member or bush 86 and a second clutch member or bush 87.These bushes 86 and 87 carry coupling claws 86a and 80a, respectively,which are chamfered in the form 'of a truncated pyramid and the couplingclaws 87a and 81a of the clutch bushing 87 and of the free sprocket 81are straight. The inside and outside diameters of the first and secondclutch bushes 86 and 87 are so dimensioned at least on the sides facingeach other that they can be telescoped up to a stop. The bushes 86 and87 include an axially elongated slot through which a wedge 88 is engagedand which provides a driving connection between the bushes 86 and 87 anddrive shaft 76. The slots in the bushes 86 and 87 and in the drive shaft76 are longer than the width of the wedge 88 so that the bushes 86 and87 are axially displaceable and can be moved relatively in axialdirections.

A compression spring 89 is arranged around the bush 86 and bears at thebush 86 at its one end and the bush 87 at its opposite end. Thecompression spring 89 tends to spread the bushes 86 and 87 apart andconstitutes a spring biasing means for biasing the bush 87 into anengaged position when the bush 86 in in a disengaged position.

The drive shaft 76 is partly hollow and in the hollow portion isarranged the tension spring 91 which is secure to the wedge 88 and whichcan be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 90. It provides a biasingmeans for biasing the bush 86 into an engaged position.

The force of the compression spring 91 and the force of the tensionspring 91 are so selected and adjust that the coupling claws 86a of theclutch bush 86 engage in the unloaded gear. The claws 87a of the bush 87which carries the sprocket wheel are disengaged from the claws 81a ofthe sprocket wheel 81. If the hand wheel 16 is now turned thetransmission in such that the drive is from the drive shaft 76, theclutch bush 86, the sprocket wheel 80, the chain 84 to the sprocketwheel 82 and the drive shaft 79 and to the sprocket wheel 92. The handwheel 52, which is connected to the sprocket 77 turns freely with it.The bush 86 with the sprocket I 80 will remain engaged until the wedgeeffect of the coupling claws 86a and 80a exceeds the contact pressureexerted by the tension spring 91. The force of the tension spring 91 isadjusted by the adjusting screw so that engagement takes place duringthe raising of the roof parts when the driven shaft 79 is loaded.

When the clutch bush 86 is disengaged with clutch bush 87 engages tocause rotation of the sprocket 81 and driving of the shaft 79 throughthe driven sprocket 85. This provides for a different transmission gearratio and provides a force-saving speed transmission. Theinterengagement is produced by the action of the compression spring 89after the bush 86 is moved backwardly into disengagement and thecompression spring 89 becomes effective to force engagement of the claws87a and 81a of the clutch bush 87 for driving engagement of theassociated sprocket 81 with the sprocket 85. Jamming of the couplingclaws is prevented by the elastic engagement of the clutch bush 87because of the fact that it may be displaced toward the compressionspring 89 on the clutch bush 86. When the force on the hand wheel 16diminishes the clutch is shifted automatically to the path-saving speedratio by the tension spring 91.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A driving transmission, particularly for opening and closing slidingroof parts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable driven shaftadapted to be connected to a part to be moved, first and second drivegear means each with engaged toothed wheels carried by said drive shaft,a first coupling connected between said drive shaft and said first drivemeans, a second coupling connected between said drive shaft and saidsecond drive gear means, operating means connected to said drive shaftto rotate said drive shaft, first spring means biasing said firstcoupling into an engaged position, second spring means biasing saidsecond coupling toward an engaged position, said first spring meansbeing connected to said second coupling and holding said second couplingin a position in which said second spring means is ineffective when saiddriven shaft is in a loaded driving condition and when said operatingmeans is rotating said drive shaft.

2. A driving transmission according to claim 1, including a hand wheeldriving sprocket connected to said first coupling and being rotatableduring engagement of said first coupling.

3. A driving transmission, according to claim 1, including first andsecond driven sprockets carried on said driven shaft, said first andsecond toothed wheels carried by said drive shaft including separatefirst and second drive sprockets and chain means extending betweenrespective first drive sprocket and said second drive sprocket and saidsecond driven sprocket.

4. A driving transmission, particularly for opening and closing slidingroof parts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft a rotatable driven shaftadapted to be connected to a part to be moved, first and second drivegear means carried by said drive shaft, a first coupling connectedbetween said drive shaft and said first drive means, a second couplingconnected between said drive shaft and said second drive gear means,operating means connected to said drive shaft to rotate said driveshaft, first spring means biasing said first coupling into an engagedposition, second spring means biasing said second coupling toward anengaged position, said first spring means being connected to said secondcoupling and holding said second coupling in a position in which saidsecond spring means is ineffective when said driven shaft is in a loadeddriving condition and ,when' said operating means is rotating said driveshaft, said first and second drive gear means comprising respectivefirst and second gears carried by said first and second couplingsrespectively.

5. A driving transmission, according to claim 4,

wherein said first and second gears comprise driving sprockets.

6. A driving transmission, particularly for opening and closing slidingroof parts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable driven shaftadaptedto be connected to a part to be moved, first and second drivegear means carried by said drive shaft, a first coupling connectedbetween said drive shaft and said first drive means, a second couplingconnected between said drive shaft and said second drive gear means,operating means connected to said drive shaft to rotate said driveshaft, first spring means biasing said first coupling into an engagedposition, second spring means biasing said second coupling toward anengaged position, said first spring means being connected to said secondcoupling and holding said second coupling in a position in which saidsecond spring means is ineffective when said driven shaft is in a loadeddriving condition and when said operating means is rotating said driveshaft, said first and second couplings comprising telescopic sleevemembers rotatably mounted on said drive shaft.

7. A driving transmission, according to claim 6, wherein said firstspring means comprises a spring having one end anchored at a fixedlocation, said first and second couplings comprising telescopic sleevemembers having each an axially elongated slot, a wedge member extendingthrough the slots of each of said couplings and engaged with theopposite end of said spring.

8. A driving transmission, particularly for opening and closing slidingroof parts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable driven shaftadapted to be connected to a part to be moved, first and second drivegear means carried by said drive shaft, a first coupling connectedbetween said drive shaft and said first drive means, a second couplingconnected between said drive shaft and said second drive gear means,operating means connected to said drive shaft to rotate said drive a andholding said second coupling in a position in which drive gears.

1. A driving transmission, particularly for opening and closing slidingroof parts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable driven shaftadapted to be connected to a part to be moved, first and second drivegear means each with engaged toothed wheels carried by said drive shaft,a first coupling connected between said drive shaft and said first drivemeans, a second coupling connected between said drive shaft and saidsecond drive gear means, operating means connected to said drive shaftto rotate said drive shaft, first spring means biasing said firstcoupling into an engaged position, second spring means biasing saidsecond coupling toward an engaged position, said first spring meansbeing connected to said second coupling and holding said second couplingin a position in which said second spring means is ineffective when saiddriven shaft is in a loaded driving condition and when said operatingmeans is rotating said drive shaft.
 2. A driving transmission accordingto claim 1, including a hand wheel driving sprocket connected to saidfirst coupling and being rotatable during engagement of said firstcoupling.
 3. A driving transmission, according to claim 1, includingfirst and second driven sprockets carried on said driven shaft, saidfirst and second toothed wheels carried by said drive shaft includingseparate first and second drive sprockets and chain means extendingbetween respective first drive sprocket and said second drive sprocketand said second driven sprocket.
 4. A driving transmission, particularlyfor opening and closing sliding roof parts, comprising a rotatable driveshaft a rotatable driven shaft adapted to be connected to a part to bemoved, first and second drive gear means carried by said drive shaft, afirst coupling connected between said drive shaft and said first drivemeans, a second coupling connected between said drive shaft and saidsecond drive gear means, operating means connected to said drive shaftto rotate said drive shaft, first spring means biasing said firstcoupling into an enGaged position, second spring means biasing saidsecond coupling toward an engaged position, said first spring meansbeing connected to said second coupling and holding said second couplingin a position in which said second spring means is ineffective when saiddriven shaft is in a loaded driving condition and when said operatingmeans is rotating said drive shaft, said first and second drive gearmeans comprising respective first and second gears carried by said firstand second couplings respectively.
 5. A driving transmission, accordingto claim 4, wherein said first and second gears comprise drivingsprockets.
 6. A driving transmission, particularly for opening andclosing sliding roof parts, comprising a rotatable drive shaft, arotatable driven shaft adapted to be connected to a part to be moved,first and second drive gear means carried by said drive shaft, a firstcoupling connected between said drive shaft and said first drive means,a second coupling connected between said drive shaft and said seconddrive gear means, operating means connected to said drive shaft torotate said drive shaft, first spring means biasing said first couplinginto an engaged position, second spring means biasing said secondcoupling toward an engaged position, said first spring means beingconnected to said second coupling and holding said second coupling in aposition in which said second spring means is ineffective when saiddriven shaft is in a loaded driving condition and when said operatingmeans is rotating said drive shaft, said first and second couplingscomprising telescopic sleeve members rotatably mounted on said driveshaft.
 7. A driving transmission, according to claim 6, wherein saidfirst spring means comprises a spring having one end anchored at a fixedlocation, said first and second couplings comprising telescopic sleevemembers having each an axially elongated slot, a wedge member extendingthrough the slots of each of said couplings and engaged with theopposite end of said spring.
 8. A driving transmission, particularly foropening and closing sliding roof parts, comprising a rotatable driveshaft, a rotatable driven shaft adapted to be connected to a part to bemoved, first and second drive gear means carried by said drive shaft, afirst coupling connected between said drive shaft and said first drivemeans, a second coupling connected between said drive shaft and saidsecond drive gear means, operating means connected to said drive shaftto rotate said drive shaft, first spring means biasing said firstcoupling into an engaged position, second spring means biasing saidsecond coupling toward an engaged position, said first spring meansbeing connected to said second coupling and holding said second couplingin a position in which said second spring means is ineffective when saiddriven shaft is in a loaded driving condition and when said operatingmeans is rotating said drive shaft, a first drive gear freely rotatableon said drive shaft, a second drive gear freely rotatable on said driveshaft, said first and second couplings comprising respectiveinterengageable first and second jaw members on the respective first andsecond couplings and the first and second drive gears.